DT Landri re-signs with Eagles despite short-term deal
Defensive tackle Derek Landri returned to the Eagles with a one-year deal, although he admitted being disappointed a longer agreement wasn't able to be hammered out.
"I would have like to have a long-term contract, and we actually had something done about a week and a half ago and then JP (left tackle Jason Peters) had that unfortunate accident and kind of threw a wrench in it for me," Landri said. "I actually thought I wasn't going to be back there, but both sides had cool heads and we wound up getting something done."
Landri was referring to Peters' ruptured Achilles, which caused the Eagles to scramble to sign former Bill Demetress Bell to play left tackle and table the multi-year deal being discussed with Landri.
"Yeah, not necessarily a long-term, four or five-year deal but it wasn't necessarily a one-year deal under much different circumstances," Landri said. "We were able to still work through things and get something done."
Landri said he understands football is a business and said he'll use the lack of a multi-year deal as motivation rather than habor any bad feelings about the situation.
"I just know that I wanted to be a part of the Eagles and they wanted me a part of it," he said. "I get an opportunity to play for them for another year. That's going to work out for a long-term thing if I prove to them that I can play at a high level, and we'll probably meet on that road when we get there."
Landri, 28, made 21 tackles and recorded two sacks for the Eagles in 2011, his first season in Philadelphia after three years in Jacksonville and one in Carolina. He also recovered a fumble and blocked a kick. The native of Huntington Beach, Calif., was originally a fifth-round selection (166th overall) of the Jaguars in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Landri rejoins an Eagles defense that was eighth in the league in total defense in 2011. Philadelphia was 10th against the pass and 16th against the run.
"We were the best defensive line in the NFL last year," said Landri. "We have potential to be better than we were last year, and we left a few things on the table last year. I'm not satisfied at all with the outcome, and I decided to come back and be a part of it."
He's the fifth free agent to re-sign with the Eagles this off-season, joining offensive linemen Evan Mathis and King Dunlap, defensive tackle Antonio Dickson (a restricted free agent) and wide receiver DeSean Jackson, the recipient of the team's franchise tag.
Landri didn't visit any other teams in free agency, but said the pull to return to the Eagles included coach Andy Reid and defensive line coach Jim Washburn.
"I think Coach Wash, first of all, wants what is best for his players. He wants his players to be ballplayers and doesn't want them to be machines," said Landri. "His system allows you to be ballplayers. He coaches harder than any coach I've ever been around and expects more out of us than any coach I've been around. At the same time, he respects us and cares for us as ballplayers and people. It makes a big difference."
